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Lest We Forget
Nearly a century has passed since our ANZAC troops ventured ashore in Gallipoli during World War 1. In the spirit of Anzac Day, tomorrow we will join forces with the NSW Swifts to honour those who bravely fought.
With a sombre piper playing Flowers in the Forest, representatives of the Steel and Swifts will lay a wreath underneath the New Zealand and Australian flags at the end of the court during halftime.
And we will create our own slice of history as the first ANZ Championship game to be played in the Australian capital of Canberra, an occasion the Steel team is truly honoured to play a role in given the significance of the date.
It's been an intense week for the team with just three days between games and a jaunt across the Tasman Sea thrown into the mix.
We kick started the road trip in style with a high-scoring 77-61 thriller against the Tactix in Christchurch on Monday night. Steel proved dominant across all facets of the game, the unwavering determination evident from the outset when we chalked up the opening five goals in a row to leave the home side floundering.
Nailing an awe-inspring 60 shots from 61 attempts earned Jhaniele Fowler-Reid her third consecutive Golden Bib Award as attacker of the round while wing attack Shannon Francois was a deserved recipient for MVP.
That's plenty of momentum we've packed for the journey over the ditch and we're keen to unleash it on the Swifts. After all, the camaraderie only extends so far when there's a precious two championship points at stake.
Steel a Secret from ... Wendy Frew
Which team do you look forward to playing the most and why? Australian teams over there as I want to win on Aussie soil.
Do you have any secret party tricks? I can do the moon walk.
Who has had the most influence on your career? My mum and dad, Robyn Broughton and my husband Trent.
Growing up who was your all-time favourite player? Lesley Rumball (nee Nicol).
FIND OUT MORE OF WENDY'S SECRETS .... Click Here
 Steel Yourself for ROUND 9
NSW Swifts v Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel
Monday 25 April, 1.48pm
AIS Arena, Canberra
Broadcast Live - FOX SPORTS 3 (AUS); SKY SPORT 1 (NZ)
Umpires: Jemma Carlton & Michelle Phippard, Reserve: Rachael Ayre
The Facts:
LAST MEETING: Round 7, 2013: Steel 60 def Swifts 55, Stadium Southland Velodrome, Invercargill.
• This will be the first ANZ Championship game played in Canberra with the Australian capital becoming the 20th city to host a regular season or finals match since the league began in 2008.
• The Swifts have won three of their past four Round 9 matches. Their only defeat came last year when they lost 50-48 to the Adelaide Thunderbirds in Adelaide. The Swifts had a bye in Round 9 in 2008 and 2009.
• The Swifts average 51 goals a game in their six previous encounters against the Steel with a highest score of 55 goals scored three times – Round 14, 2010, Round 13, 2012 and Round 7 last year.
• The Steel averages 46 goals a match against the Swifts with 60 goals in their meeting last year at Invercargill their best.
• The Swifts have an average winning margin of 10.5 goals against the Steel with three of their four wins being by 10 goals or more. Their highest was 17 goals, scored in Round 14, 2010 in Sydney.
• The Steel’s two wins against the Swifts have been by seven goals (Round 14, 2009, 55-48) and five goals (Round 7, 2013, 60-55).
• In Round 5 the Steel won their first ever match on Australian soil in their 17th attempt when they defeated the Adelaide Thunderbirds 61-59 at Adelaide’s Netball SA Stadium.
• Steel is the No.1 attacking side in the league, averaging 59.5 goals a match. The Swifts average 53.9 goals a game, ranking them No.6 in the league.
• The Steel has the second worst defensive record in the league, conceding 62.3 goals a match with the Swifts ranked No.4, conceding an average of 51.7 goals a match.
• Steel shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid became the second player this season to win a #GoldenBib for three consecutive weeks.
• Swifts goal shooter Caitlin Thwaites has become one of two players in the league to score more than 100 goals for three separate clubs. She shot 1229 for the Haier Pulse, 1186 for the Melbourne Vixens and 178 for the Swifts.
• Susan Pratley’s 37 goals at 84 per cent accuracy in Round 13, 2012 is the best shooting performance by a Swifts player against the Steel.
• Fowler-Reid shot 98 per cent of the Steel’s goals in their win over the Swifts last year. She finished the game with 59 goals (94 per cent accuracy) which is the best shooting performance by a Steel player against the Swifts.
• Steel captain Jodi Brown is ranked No.2 for goal assists in the league with 129 and teammate Shannon Francois is ranked No.5 with 101. Swifts captain Kimberlee Green is ranked No.6 with 99.
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